Multiple purpose nozzle



G. E. L`oFGRr-:N 2,851,718

MULTIPLE PURPOSE NozzLE Filed June 3. 1954 sept. 1s, 1958 f6 Pff/0M ORNEY United States Fatent @nice 2,851,718 Patented Sept. 16, 1958 MULTIPLE PURPOSE NOZZLE Gustaf Einar Lofgren, Riverside, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., ya corporatron of Delaware Application June 3, 1954, Serial No. 434,263

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-417) This invention relates to a new and improved suction nozzle for use with a conventional vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a multi-purpose nozzle or cleaning tool which is readily adapted for use on various pile, fabric or similar oor coverings, or on linoleum or hardwood oors.

One object of this invention is to provide a highly llexible cleaning tool having multi-purpose nozzle openings 'for selective use on various oors and floor coverings.

A further object hereof is to provide a brush or plain nozzle opening selectively manipulatableat the operators will to effect various surface cleaning steps.

Still another object is to provide a readily dismantled combination oor and rug cleaning nozzle which by inversion and resetting of certain of its elements may be quickly adapted for continued use and for various clean- V ing purposes. l

Various other and furtherobjects and advantages of this'invention will become apparent from the following description, especially when considered together with the accompanying ldrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a cleaning tool with its rug cleaning nozzle opening in operative position;

Figure 2'is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing in broken lines, the nozzle connector elbow swung upwardly preparatory to removing and inver-ting the nozzle opening member;

Figure 3 is a side plan View similar to that shown in Fig. 2 with a portion of the nozzle connector elbow and the nozzle opening member in section, showing however, the floor brush nozzle opening in operative position;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the swiveling nozzle connector elbow in nozzle holding position and (in broken lines) swung out of nozzle holding position;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 showing the nozzle locking member holding the nozzle connector elbow rigidly in xed position;

Figure 6 is a side plan view, with portions cut away of another embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed view of a spring biased locking pin for the nozzle of Fig. 6 taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

In accordance with this invention, thecleaning tool comprises a main connector elbow for readily attaching against the inoperative side of the dual purpose nozzle base member. AIn the embodiment illustrated, a door brush forms one opening while a rug cleaning lip forms the other opening. However, various other purposeful nozzle openings may be put into similar combination `with each other.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, wherein the conventional wand and exible suction hose are not shown, one embodiment of the'invention is showny in Figs. l through 5, inclusive. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment. The cleaning tool 10 includes a supporting member or frame 12 into one side of which is rotatably mounted a main connector elbow 14 by means' of snap clip 14a. A second or auxiliary connector elbow 16 is in continuous communication with main elbow 14 and is also rotatably mounted, but in the opposite side of supporting member or frame 12 by means of snap clip 16a.

The free end of main swivel elbow 14 is mounted on the suction end of a wand or flexible suction hose (not shown). The free end of auxiliary swivel elbow 16 is ground and shaped as a curved abutting joint 16b, Fig. 4, to conform in an airtight t with a correspondingly inversely ground and curved surface 22a on a suction communicating orifice 22b in nozzle base member 22. The suction air stream is thus communicated through main connecting swiveled elbow 14, the opening in supporting member 12, the auxiliary swiveled elbow 16 and opening 22h in nozzle base member 22, to the appropriate operatively positioned no-zzle opening (i. e. rug nozzle in Fig. 2 and floor brush in Fig. 3). e

Mounting pins 32, one or more of which may be used, are atlxed in a nozzle mounting surface of supporting member 12. Preferably, for purposes of rigidly mounting and assembling the respective pieces, two pins 32 are desirable. ln order to change from one operative nozzle and substitute the other nozzle opening, auxiliary elbow 16 is swung upwards (see broken lines, Fig. 2), the nozzle member 22 disassembled from its pin mountings 32 on supporting member 12 and turned over and reassembledon its pin mountings 32, and auxiliary elbow 16 swung back into suction communicating position. In order to retain auxiliary elbow 16 in operative position, a lat'ch 40, spring biased to holding position, is mounted on auxiliary elbow 16 and engages between lugs 24, Fig.

5, axed to nozzle member 22.

If a single pin mounting 32 is used, after the auxiliary swivel elbow 16 is moved out of nozzle locking position (broken lines of Fig. 2) and an appropriately small dual nozzle 22 mounted in operative position, the nozzle 22 may he rotated on pin mounting 32 over an arc of 180 degrees in order to place the other side of the nozzle member 22 into operative position, whereupon auxiliary swivel nozzle 16 may be snapped back into locking position and the newly selected nozzle opening can assume, immediately, its cleaning function.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings a nozzle 22 having comparatively large suction mouths is illustrated. Thus, 26 is the lip portion of a nozzle suitable for cleaning a relatively large rug, carpet or other Hoor covering whereas 28 is a nozzle opening provided with brush bristles for cleaning hardwood oors or other hard surfaces.

In the variation shown in Figs. 6 and 7, parts corresponding to those of the previous embodiment are similarly numbered. Elbow 116, however, is iixedly mounted in frame member 12 and hence may have a at free end (see 16b of Fig. 4 where a curved free end is shown on 16). Changing of the nozzle cleaning openings from rug cleaning opening 26 to i'loor cleaning opening 28 is effected by withdrawing spring biased pin 132 whereupon pins 133 are removed from operative engagement with corresponding openings in the adjacent face of nozzle 122. Then nozzle 122 can be lowered from engagement with the free end of elbow 116, nozzle 122 may then be turned over 180 degrees and reinserted over the free end of elbow 116 whereupon the release of spring biased pin 132 locks nozzle 122 securely in operative position for the use of oor brush 28.I With fixed elbow 116 no additional locking means or latch, such as 40 Fig. 2, is

necessary.

It is to be understood that various changes and various brush and nozzle members may be used interchangeably and that the embodiments herein described are merely illustrative, the scope of the invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a vacuum cleaner tool, a frame member, a suction conduit connector carried by said member, a nozzle member having an opening extending therethrough, dissimilar surface contacting structures forming suction nozzle inlet openings on opposite sides of said nozzle member, means for removably securing said nozzle member to said frame member with either of said sides in operative position for contacting a surface to be cleaned, a tubular elbow having one end swiveled to said frame member in communication with said suction conduit connector and the other end pivotable into and out of communication with the end of said opening remote from the side of said nozzle member which is in said operative position, and means for retaining said elbow in communication with the end of said remote opening.

2. In a vacuum cleaner tool, a frame member, a suction conduit connector carried by said member, a nozzle member having an opening extending therethrough, dissimilar surface contacting structures forming suction nozzle inlet openings on opposite sides of said nozzle member, means for rotatably securing said nozzle member to said frame member with either of said sides in operative position for contacting a surface to be cleaned, a tubular elbow having a major portion thereof disposed outside said nozzle member and having one end swiveled to said frame member in communication with said suction conduit connector and the other end pivotable into and out of communication with the end of said opening remote from the side of said nozzle member which is in said operative position, and means for retaining said elbow in communication with the end of said remote opening.

3. In a vacuum cleaner tool, a frame member having a passageway therethrough, means for connecting a suction conduit to one end of said passageway, a nozzle member having an opening extending therethrough, dissimilar surface contacting structures forming suction nozzle inlet openings on opposite sides of said nozzle member, means for rotatably securing said nozzle member to said frame member with either of said sides in operative position for contacting a surface to be cleaned, a tubular elbow having a major portion thereof disposed outside said nozzle member and having one end swiveled to and communicating with the other end of said passageway and the other end of said elbow communicating with the end of said openig remote from the side of said nozzle member which is in said operative position.

4. In a vacuum cleaner tool, a frame member, a suction conduit connector carried by said member, a nozzle member having an opening extending therethrough, dissimilar surface contacting structures forming suction nozzle inlet openings on opposite sides of said nozzle opening, retractable projecting means carried by said frame member for engagement with said nozzle member for detachably securing the two members in fixed relationship with either of said sides in operative position for contacting a surface to be cleaned, and an elbow member having one end secured to said frame member in communication with said suction conduit connector and the other end positioned so as to communicate with the end of said opening remote from the side of said nozzle which is in said operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,342,345 Moore et a1 .Tune 1, 1920 2,242,566 Bilde May 20, 1941 2,351,507 Hallock June 13, 1944 2,432,670 Lampe Dec. 16, 1947 2,622,265 Allen Dec. 23, 1952 

